IP Library Granted Patent US 11,707,323
Granted Patent B2
US 11,707,323 · App. 17/211,150 · Granted Jul 25, 2023

Electrical analyzer assembly for intravascular lithotripsy device

Inventors: Eric Schultheis (San Clemente, CA); Gerald D. Bacher (Carlsbad, CA)
Assignee: BOLT MEDICAL, INC.
A61B18/245A61B2017/00026A61B2017/00039A61B2017/00154A61B2018/0022
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,707,323
App. No.
17/211,150
Granted
Jul 25, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A catheter system for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or a heart valve includes an energy source, a balloon, an energy guide, and an electrical analyzer assembly. The energy source generates energy. The balloon is positionable substantially adjacent to the treatment site. The balloon has a balloon wall that defines a balloon interior that receives a balloon fluid. The energy guide is configured to receive energy from the energy source and guide the energy into the balloon interior. The electrical analyzer assembly is configured to monitor a balloon condition during use of the catheter system. The electrical analyzer assembly can include a first electrode, a second electrode, and an impedance detector that is electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode. The impedance detector is configured to detect impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Claims (35)

1. A catheter system for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or heart valve within a body of a patient, the catheter system comprising:

an energy source that generates energy;

a balloon that is positionable substantially adjacent to the treatment site, the balloon having a balloon wall that defines a balloon interior, the balloon interior being configured to receive a balloon fluid;

an energy guide that is configured to receive energy from the energy source and guide the energy into the balloon interior; and

an electrical analyzer assembly that is configured to monitor a condition of the balloon during use of the catheter system, the electrical analyzer assembly including (i) a first electrode, (ii) a second electrode that is in fluid communication with blood of the patient, and (iii) an impedance detector, the impedance detector being electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode, the impedance detector being configured to detect an impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode.

2. The catheter system of claim 1 wherein the electrical analyzer assembly analyzes an electrical signal and determines the condition of the balloon based at least in part on the electrical signal.

3. The catheter system of claim 2 wherein the electrical analyzer assembly analyzes the electrical signal and determines whether a rupture of the balloon has occurred based at least in part on the electrical signal.

4. The catheter system of claim 1 wherein when a rupture in the balloon has not occurred, the first electrode is in fluid communication with the balloon fluid in the balloon interior, and the second electrode is not in fluid communication with the balloon fluid in the balloon interior.

5. The catheter system of claim 1 wherein the impedance detector generates a detector signal based at least in part on the detected impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode.

6. The catheter system of claim 5 further comprising a system controller that is electrically coupled to the impedance detector, the system controller being configured to receive the detector signal from the impedance detector and determine the condition of the balloon based at least in part on the detector signal.

7. The catheter system of claim 6 wherein the impedance detector is electrically coupled to the system controller via a wired connection.

8. The catheter system of claim 6 wherein the impedance detector is electrically coupled to the system controller via a wireless connection.

9. The catheter system of claim 6 wherein the system controller is configured to recognize a normal condition of the balloon based at least in part on the detector signal.

10. The catheter system of claim 6 wherein the system controller is configured to recognize a potential rupture of the balloon based at least in part on the detector signal.

11. The catheter system of claim 10 wherein the system controller is configured to automatically shut down operation of the catheter system upon recognition of the potential rupture of the balloon.

12. The catheter system of claim 1 wherein the first electrode is positioned within the balloon interior.

13. The catheter system of claim 1 further comprising an inflation conduit through which the balloon fluid is directed into the balloon interior; and wherein the first electrode is positioned within the inflation conduit.

14. The catheter system of claim 1 wherein the energy source is a laser source that provides pulses of laser energy; and wherein the energy guide includes an optical fiber.

15. A catheter system for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or heart valve within a body of a patient, the catheter system comprising:

an energy source that generates energy;

a balloon that is positionable substantially adjacent to the treatment site, the balloon having a balloon wall that defines a balloon interior, the balloon interior being configured to receive a balloon fluid;

an inflation conduit through which the balloon fluid is directed into the balloon interior;

an energy guide that is configured to receive energy from the energy source and guide the energy into the balloon interior; and

an electrical analyzer assembly that is configured to monitor a condition of the balloon during use of the catheter system, the electrical analyzer assembly including (i) a first electrode that is positioned within the inflation conduit, (ii) a second electrode, and (iii) an impedance detector, the impedance detector being electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode, the impedance detector being configured to detect an impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode.

16. The catheter system of claim 15 wherein the second electrode is positioned on skin of the patient.

17. A catheter system for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or heart valve within a body of a patient, the catheter system comprising: an energy source that generates energy; a balloon that is positionable substantially adjacent to the treatment site, the balloon having a balloon wall that defines a balloon interior, the balloon interior being configured to receive a balloon fluid; a guidewire that is configured to guide positioning of the balloon substantially adjacent to the treatment site; an energy guide that is configured to receive energy from the energy source and guide the energy into the balloon interior; and an electrical analyzer assembly that is configured to monitor a condition of the balloon during use of the catheter system, the electrical analyzer assembly including (i) a first electrode, (ii) a second electrode that is positioned substantially adjacent to the guidewire, and (iii) an impedance detector, the impedance detector being electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode, the impedance detector being configured to detect an impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode.

18. The catheter system of claim 17 wherein the first electrode is positioned in fluid communication with the balloon fluid.

19. A catheter system for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or heart valve within a body of a patient, the catheter system comprising:

an energy source that generates energy;

a balloon that is positionable substantially adjacent to the treatment site, the balloon having a balloon wall that defines a balloon interior, the balloon interior being configured to receive a balloon fluid;

a guidewire that is configured to guide positioning of the balloon substantially adjacent to the treatment site;

a guidewire lumen that is configured to move over the guidewire, the guidewire lumen being coupled to the balloon;

an energy guide that is configured to receive energy from the energy source and guide the energy into the balloon interior; and

an electrical analyzer assembly that is configured to monitor a condition of the balloon during use of the catheter system, the electrical analyzer assembly including (i) a first electrode, (ii) a second electrode that is positioned within the guidewire lumen, and (iii) an impedance detector, the impedance detector being electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode, the impedance detector being configured to detect an impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode.

20. The catheter system of claim 19 wherein the first electrode is positioned in fluid communication with the balloon fluid.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 27, 2025
From: BOLT MEDICAL, INC.
To: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
Reel/Frame 073266/0423 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2022
From: SCHULTHEIS, ERIC; BACHER, GERALD D.
To: BOLT MEDICAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 059399/0299 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63004977 · Apr 3, 2020
Related Publication 20210307828A1 · Oct 7, 2021
Cited By (8)
US 12,446,961 US 12,533,184 US 12,605,205 US 12,611,253 US 12,653,608 US 12,672,915 US 12,702,479 US 12,708,442